If a loved one is going through a healing journey right now, you know how hard it can be to watch. They might have a long road to recovery, and you might not have ideas to show how much you care. Being supportive during this time is a great way to display your love for them, but how exactly should you do this? Keep reading for suggestions on how to best show your care and concern while a loved one heals.
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1. Send a Care Package
Flowers are nice and they definitely show you’re thinking about someone, but they don’t last very long. And not to hate on flowers, but they’re not very useful other than being something pretty to look at. Instead, consider sending a care package to your loved one that’s full of goodies they can use.
There are two ways you can approach giving a care package: sending a pre-made one or making your own. You can find customizable get well gifts online to send straight to the door of your loved one. These will come pre-packed with lots of fun things, depending on what kind of package you choose. This could vary from soups to snacks, from desserts to activities to keep them occupied while resting.
If you make your own package, try to put together some of their favorite things, like their favorite candy or snack foods. You can also fill the package with goodies that represent their interests. For example, word search booklets, a movie or book, or a paint-by-number kit. There isn’t a required number of items to put in a care package, but try to coordinate based on how long they’re in recovery. They’ll likely want a few distractions to keep them busy.
2. Have Movie Nights
Another way to show your care is to participate in activities with them that they can do while healing. One of the easiest options is to have a movie night, as this allows for total bedrest. You can curl up on the couch with your loved one, enjoying a fun movie that will lift their spirits.
Try to personalize the movie night for them by watching one of their favorites. Additionally, you can jazz up the night by bringing yummy snacks. Depending on how early you start, you could even have a bit of a marathon with a TV show or a movie trilogy. Make the night as fun and interactive as possible so your healing friend doesn’t feel like they’re missing out on anything.
Moreover, this could be a repetitive activity based on how long they’re in recovery. You could have weekly movie nights or even come over more frequently to tackle episodes of a TV show together. Don’t live close to each other but still want to participate? Many streaming services have virtual watch party options ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, including Netflix and Amazon Prime. There are even special apps that let you do this no matter what streaming service you use.
3. Pick up a Hobby Together
Arts and crafts are another great activity to engage in with someone who’s limited in what they can do. Have you two always wanted to learn how to sew, crochet, or improve your painting skills? Now is a perfect opportunity to try out a relaxed hobby like these.
Get together regularly to craft together, kind of like you’re forming a craft club. Learning something new with a loved one can be exciting, and they’ll especially appreciate this during recovery. You can get creative with it, too, like organizing themed craft get-togethers. For example, you could challenge yourselves to make something that represents a favorite show, movie, or holiday.
For example, if you both love Stranger Things — you could paint mini Demogorgon planters, make ’80s-inspired friendship bracelets, or craft wall art with fairy lights to mimic the show’s iconic alphabet wall. If you both love Encanto, try making flower crowns inspired by Isabela’s character. For holiday themes, you could craft ornaments together in December, paint pumpkins in October, or make spring-themed flower arrangements around Easter. The point is to have as much fun as possible!
4. Become Pen Pals
One of the least-demanding activities you can participate in is letter-writing. Therefore, this might be ideal for your friend who’s recovering, as it doesn’t require much physical effort. Sitting down to write a letter can also take a bit of time, which will encourage them to do restful activities. Plus, you two can write letters no matter how far away you live from each other.
There’s something extra thoughtful and special about being pen pals. So much more time, thought, and effort is required with letter-writing compared to texting or calling. Consequently, this shows how much you care about the receiver since you had to go to further lengths to communicate. Make the activity extra fun by picking out fun stationery, using colorful pens, or even trying out writing in cursive.
Of course, this doesn’t mean you cut off other modes of contact — the 21st century definitely has its perks. Phones are handy devices that don’t require waiting days for a response, or trusting in the postal service. And depending on how harsh their recovery is, you’ll want to check in on them often.
Be Patient
Remember that your loved one’s healing journey might not be a straight line. One of the biggest signs of support is being patient and sticking by their side through this. No matter how big or small the recovery seems to you, it will mean a lot to them to have you through it all. Be attentive to their needs, and never let them feel like a burden or overbearing. That’s what love is — being gracious and caring no matter what’s going on.
